The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-06-27

German-Born Consuls Not wanted-America
Should Be represented by Americans.
Washington Special.
In a recent conversation an American gentle
man, who resides in Germany. said to your COR
respondent ~ had the good fortune to be pres
ent at a dinner given to tine Emperor at a castle
near Dusseldorf. and was seated next official
of high rank in the governments. The conversa-
tion drifted to the subject of American consuls
in Germany. Surprise was expressed that the
United States should send to Germany as con-
suls mon born in that country, to the exclusion
of native born Americans. The observations OF
this officer made a deep impression upon my
mind, and will give you the substance of them.
Many of the Germans who emigrate to the United
States thrifty and industrious people With
the advantages presented in America many
of the emigrants acquire wealth and political
prominence. Some succeed in securing appoint
ments in the foreign service and thus become
the official representatives of great govern
ment. Now it seems never to have occurred to
the American go overnment that it Is biunder to
send these Germans to represent the United
States and that we naturally look for Ameri-
cans TO represent America on this side OF the
Atlantic Look around you Here are present
the consuls Of England, France and other coun-
tries. and each is typical representative of the
country whose commission he bears. No Ameri-
consul is present Whyl Do YOU think tho
absence of the American consul an accident or
oversight 1t is neither. The absence of tn
American is simply attributable to the fact that
he is well known a former resident of these
parts and cannot be recognized as a gentleman
in such company this. He was born in this
locality and lived here until he emigrated to
America. Members of his family still reside
here. They belong to the lower orders. The
consul himself when hero was a common scaven-
ger, went about with bag on his back and
wooden shoes on his feet
This does not interfere with him in America,
hut Germany is not America. There is no rec
oenized caste in the United States, therefore tho
position to which a man was born and which he
occupied in early life does not affect him in that
country. If an American is sent here to repre-
sent his country we don't inquire about his early
life, and don't care from what position he sprang
He is an American in language and feeling. and
by birth. and that is sufficient to insure him .
cordial reception. But German who was known
to q scevenger or common field laborer can
not be transformed into a gentleman by present.
ing himself TO us with naturalization paper. His
relatives and former neighbor here protest
against this and the theory OF our govern
ment will not tolerate such violence. Inc
very presence of such person as the official
representative of the United States is offensive
the ruling classes of the empire The moral
worth, Intellectual requirements and pecuniary
wealth of your socalled German-American
count for nothing and the commercial as we'll
as political, interests of the United States would
be much better served by sending Americans to
Germany"
This is the substance of the conversation held
by my friend with official Of the German en-
pire and he assures me that it agrees with his
own knowledge ana observations of the subject
discussed. Our government would, perhaps. do
q wise thing to seriously consider the facts here
stated. Perhaps even the American hog would
have better show in Germany () if Americans
rather than uaturalized Germans were gent
represent the United States in that country. My
friend further informed me that he has known
instances where German -Americ an consus have
produced trouble by presuming upon their Off
cial positions and claiming privileges and i'm
munities not accorded to residents. native or
foreign, of the empire.